Finding the right travel luggage before you depart on your trip will greatly depend on where and how you will be traveling. If your journey is a weekend getaway to Paris, and you will have all the amenities provided, then you may need little in the way of travel luggage; the same applies if you are a backpacker who will be constantly on the move. Your bags must be easy to pack, transport and carry. However, if you are heading to Southeast Asia and are planning to put your roots down in Bangkok for a long time, then you can buy the biggest suitcase allowed, along with some added trunks and boxes.

There are a couple of important considerations when choosing travel luggage. First, one of the greatest mistakes that people make when buying travel luggage, is worrying more about weight than size. Weight is less of a problem than bulk, though it is important to be conscious of both. If you can travel light, all the better, but if you cannot, then try to travel small. Secondly, bring what is the most important to you. Some people have the incredible ability to travel with merely a tent, a toothbrush, a change of clothes and a guidebook. I am not one of them, but have found that if you can bring a balance of basic necessities and things for enriching your experience (such as a camera or journal), this can help you pack more quickly.

Your choice of travel luggage is of paramount importance, and will most likely involve you making a purchase at one point or another. After a certain point in your life, it will no longer suffice to borrow your brother?s ripped backpack from fifteen years back or your father?s first roll travel suitcase. You will have to hazard a purchase on your own.

Backpacks can be an obvious choice for people who will be hiking over hills and doing a fair amount of camping. It is the kind of travel luggage that distributes weight evenly on your shoulders and hips and takes the main weight off your lower back. However, if you are considering using public transport and walking in busy, crowded areas, it may be wiser to buy a combination bag and backpack. Both pieces come apart and zip together depending on where you are going, and can be very helpful if you do not wish to look too conspicuous with your backpack.

If you are going on a tour, and will be with a group who has their travel luggage carried for them, it may be wise to look into purchasing a duffel bag. These are easily stored in compartments where suitcases do not fit, and can be easily hoisted on to a pack animal or stowed away on a boat.

Traveling by air may merely require that you purchase a conventional suitcase, and if you are a frequent traveler, it may be wise to get a good quality one. The typical way that travel luggage is handled in airports could easily seeing you replacing that cheap suitcase after each trip.

However and wherever you go, remember to consider the importance of what you will be carrying, and how the travel luggage that you eventually choose can either make or break a trip.

For more information on the best Travel Deals Online try visiting Ultimate Travel Deals Video located at http://vacation-travel-deals.com/traveldeals.htm where you will find valuable information on cheap tickets and other information..

Traveling is a very exciting experience. But before you go on perfect getaway, you should prepare yourself. A little preparation will go a long way. It is a good idea to do some research. You want to learn as much as possible about your destination. For example, you want to know the type of weather in the area, and you want to find out what types of diseases are common in the area.

Documentation is also important. You want to make sure that you have the paperwork and documentation ready. You do not want to forget your visa at home, when you reach the airport. It is also a good idea to find out about the medical coverage. You may consider purchasing trip insurance.

If you plan to drive, you should get your automobile ready. You should take it to the local mechanic. You should study the local road, laws, and other driving regulations.

You should plan your budget. It is important that you research the cost of local items. If you plan to visit the country that has high cost of living, you can easily run out of money. You also want to have ideas on taxes and tipping in the country of your destination. Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services. It is also a good idea to check for local major holidays. Some services may be limited to those dates.

Check Out More Articles:

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Several years ago, I had to stop working due to a stress-related muscle disease. I didn?t miss my job. What I did miss was traveling. Conferences in San Francisco, contracts in the Northern Mariana Islands, seminars in Bogota? – all of these seemed part of the past. After two years of staying at home, an unexpected opportunity came up to teach a course in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I jumped on it. I was desperate to go somewhere, anywhere.

When I agreed to go, I wasn?t sure I could do it. I knew I would have to plan carefully if my body was going to hold up. I sat down and made a list of the things I needed to remain well and active. The trip was much more successful than I expected.

In later talking about the experience, I learned something I should have already known, that there were a lot of people who could travel only if they planned very carefully taking their physical limitations into consideration. People with disabilities had to put their bodies and their stress levels first.

That?s when I started writing about travel. I wrote for people who didn?t have the kind of stamina that most travel packages required. Careful travelers, I called us, had to think about things other people took for granted like the shock absorbers on a tour bus. An hour in a shoddy bus could send the careful traveler to bed for days. The careful traveler had to try to protect themselves from incidents like this, and think about what they would do if they did land in bed.

Like all Careful Travelers, my first concern in going to Ft. Lauderdale was the hotel. I knew I had to find a place that was comfortable, a place where there was exercise equipment so I could keep my muscles loose. I had to find a place where there was decent, healthy food in case I was too tired or sick to go outside the hotel. In addition, I needed a place where I would feel happy and content even if I did wind up in bed.

I found the perfect hotel, not in Ft. Lauderdale, but in Hollywood Beach a town between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Hollywood has the turquoise water and sugar white sand beaches of south Florida without the massive high-rise development characterizing the other two cities.

The Hollywood Beach Marriott couldn?t be any closer to the beach, and my room looked exactly like the room in the inviting photograph on their website. Marriott has only recently taken over this hotel and some of the reviews on the internet were written before Marriott owned it. I emailed the manager, Fernando Harb, just to make sure. He assured me the hotel was in fine shape and even offered me a long-term stay rate that was a third off the regular price.

When I got to the hotel, I found that Marriott had lovingly refurbished this small hotel in a warm, lush style complete with dark mahogany wood everywhere. In fact, the hotel has the comfortable feeling of a fine home. Almost all of the rooms have a view of the ocean and all have small balconies. The furnishings are made of the same dark mahogany wood that?s in the lobby and have the look of fine antiques in an historic home. The enormous king-sized bed was made up with luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy duvets and oversized pillows. Just getting in the bed every night made me feel pampered and content.

I could even see the beach from my bed. On days when I didn?t feel well, I would open the balcony door, prop myself up in bed amidst the pillows, read and look at the waves and the birds. Other times, I would watch the 75-channel cable TV that even included CSPAN.

Unlike most hotels, Marriott has one button you push on the phone to get whatever service you want. There is no fumbling around trying to find out what number to call for room service or wake up calls. One button connects you with a very nice person who already knows your name before you tell them arranges anything you want without transferring you around the hotel.

I used room service a lot. The food was exquisite. I loved the key lime pie and the seafood pasta with lobster and scallops. The servers were immaculate and seemed to genuinely like their jobs. The presentation of the food was elegant.

One of the things I learned on this trip was that for people with prescription drugs, a room safe is a must. Losing prescription medication, even a few pills, would be worse than losing money. It made me feel that much less stressed to know that the prescription medication was safely locked in my room rather than rattling around in my handbag. The safe was easy to set and unobtrusive, hidden inside a credenza with the mini-bar.

I can?t say enough about the staff of the Hollywood Beach Marriott. They were uniformly helpful, efficient and friendly. I leave quite a mess when I get dressed in the morning, but my room was always immaculate when I returned to it. The maid, Charlene, was friendly and interesting. She and I talked about the political situation in Haiti on numerous occasions.

The staff makes it a point to cater to your needs. I went to Key Largo to swim with dolphins one weekend and then returned to Hollywood. On the way, I phoned to let the hotel know I was coming. They not only had my room ready, they had put my little refrigerator back in the room and plugged it in so it was already cool. They also remembered that I needed an extension cord so I could plug up my laptop computer.

The hotel not only has the beach, great rooms and good service to offer. It has a pool, a fitness room, a hot tub, and a spa where you can get an emergency massage or an emergency facial. The hotel restaurant is right beside the pool. There is a section inside and another section outside next to the beach.

The Hollywood Beach Hotel is a delightful little gem nestled beside the beach away from the monstrous high-rise hotels of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. I would highly recommend it to anybody. There are lots of things to do in and around Hollywood. Both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are short drives and Hollywood is restoring its city center. You can do as much or as little as you want, as much or as little as you can. If you are a Careful Traveler, you will feel as if you had a fine vacation even if you never leave the hotel.

A short drive from Hollywood is Dolphins Plus where you can swim with dolphins. The hearty can drive there and back in a day, but you would probably like to stay the night. Try the Kona Kai Hotel for the cozy, at home feel. Turn off the main road into beautifully landscaped grounds. It?s like entering a little cocoon. They even have their own art gallery.

Swim with Dolphins in Key Largo http://www.dolphinsplus.com/

Hollywood Beach Marriott http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLOF

Sara?s Restaurant, Hollywood http://www.southflorida.com/dining/17777,0,5844547.venue

Dr. Johns is a criminologist, writer, travel planner, and freelance journalist. She has a Ph.D. in Criminology from the Faculty of Law of the University of Edinburgh and has written and published three books.

You can read some of her stories at http://www.cjjohns.com and email her at cjjohns@charter.net.

Theme park is a great fun. It is also possible to spend more time on the ride. You don?t want to spend money to stand in line, get sunburn, and feel sick from junk food. A little research will help you a long way. It is possible to have a fun, safe, and healthy day at theme park.

Before you make your reservations at the theme park, you should call to check on the big rides. You do not want to feel disappointment, if the big rides are closed. You can also save your energy and gas to drive there,

Try to make a plan before you go. Some theme parks are gigantic. You may not be able to see everything in one day. Some of the rides are better than the other. You may want to ride some rides more than once. Many parks have longer hours on a certain days. You want to find out when it is best to visit.

If you are a member of associations, you may get special treatment at the theme park. You may get special seating, VIP lounge, or be allowed to skip to the front of line.

You also want to check for special light shows, fireworks, parades, or live music on certain days. Some days are better than the other days. The Parks usually publish schedules with this information. Try to get your hand on them.

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Many foreign tourists may often find traveling in Japan, because only a few people in Japan can speak English. However, Japan is a great country, and the Japanese are wonderful people.

Before you buy your ticket to Japan, you should know that Japan is an expensive place to travel. The cost of living is very high. You should have at least 5,000 yen per day for your pocket money. If you do not have a lot of money, you should use Japan Rail Pass. It is very cheap way to travel.

Food is one of the best things in Japan. Japanese food is incredibly delicious. Since Japan is an island, seafood is the most popular food in this country. When you think about Japanese food, you probably think about sushi. Sushi consists of raw fish and rice.

If you have a chance, you must visit Japanese hot bath. It is not something that you will see in other countries. The Japanese hot bath is called, ? Onsen ?. In some area, people take a bath together in the open area. This is often known as ?open sky bath?.

Housing is very expensive in Japan. There are too many people in Japan, and there are not enough apartments. Most Japanese can not afford to own a home. However, travelers may camp at various places in Japan. The camp site is usually safe and cheap. The Capsule hotel is one of these many cheap camp sites.

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Several years ago, I had to stop working due to a stress-related muscle disease. I didn?t miss my job. What I did miss was traveling. Conferences in San Francisco, contracts in the Northern Mariana Islands, seminars in Bogota? – all of these seemed part of the past. After two years of staying at home, an unexpected opportunity came up to teach a course in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I jumped on it. I was desperate to go somewhere, anywhere.

When I agreed to go, I wasn?t sure I could do it. I knew I would have to plan carefully if my body was going to hold up. I sat down and made a list of the things I needed to remain well and active. The trip was much more successful than I expected.

In later talking about the experience, I learned something I should have already known, that there were a lot of people who could travel only if they planned very carefully taking their physical limitations into consideration. People with disabilities had to put their bodies and their stress levels first.

That?s when I started writing about travel. I wrote for people who didn?t have the kind of stamina that most travel packages required. Careful travelers, I called us, had to think about things other people took for granted like the shock absorbers on a tour bus. An hour in a shoddy bus could send the careful traveler to bed for days. The careful traveler had to try to protect themselves from incidents like this, and think about what they would do if they did land in bed.

Like all Careful Travelers, my first concern in going to Ft. Lauderdale was the hotel. I knew I had to find a place that was comfortable, a place where there was exercise equipment so I could keep my muscles loose. I had to find a place where there was decent, healthy food in case I was too tired or sick to go outside the hotel. In addition, I needed a place where I would feel happy and content even if I did wind up in bed.

I found the perfect hotel, not in Ft. Lauderdale, but in Hollywood Beach a town between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Hollywood has the turquoise water and sugar white sand beaches of south Florida without the massive high-rise development characterizing the other two cities.

The Hollywood Beach Marriott couldn?t be any closer to the beach, and my room looked exactly like the room in the inviting photograph on their website. Marriott has only recently taken over this hotel and some of the reviews on the internet were written before Marriott owned it. I emailed the manager, Fernando Harb, just to make sure. He assured me the hotel was in fine shape and even offered me a long-term stay rate that was a third off the regular price.

When I got to the hotel, I found that Marriott had lovingly refurbished this small hotel in a warm, lush style complete with dark mahogany wood everywhere. In fact, the hotel has the comfortable feeling of a fine home. Almost all of the rooms have a view of the ocean and all have small balconies. The furnishings are made of the same dark mahogany wood that?s in the lobby and have the look of fine antiques in an historic home. The enormous king-sized bed was made up with luxurious Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy duvets and oversized pillows. Just getting in the bed every night made me feel pampered and content.

I could even see the beach from my bed. On days when I didn?t feel well, I would open the balcony door, prop myself up in bed amidst the pillows, read and look at the waves and the birds. Other times, I would watch the 75-channel cable TV that even included CSPAN.

Unlike most hotels, Marriott has one button you push on the phone to get whatever service you want. There is no fumbling around trying to find out what number to call for room service or wake up calls. One button connects you with a very nice person who already knows your name before you tell them arranges anything you want without transferring you around the hotel.

I used room service a lot. The food was exquisite. I loved the key lime pie and the seafood pasta with lobster and scallops. The servers were immaculate and seemed to genuinely like their jobs. The presentation of the food was elegant.

One of the things I learned on this trip was that for people with prescription drugs, a room safe is a must. Losing prescription medication, even a few pills, would be worse than losing money. It made me feel that much less stressed to know that the prescription medication was safely locked in my room rather than rattling around in my handbag. The safe was easy to set and unobtrusive, hidden inside a credenza with the mini-bar.

I can?t say enough about the staff of the Hollywood Beach Marriott. They were uniformly helpful, efficient and friendly. I leave quite a mess when I get dressed in the morning, but my room was always immaculate when I returned to it. The maid, Charlene, was friendly and interesting. She and I talked about the political situation in Haiti on numerous occasions.

The staff makes it a point to cater to your needs. I went to Key Largo to swim with dolphins one weekend and then returned to Hollywood. On the way, I phoned to let the hotel know I was coming. They not only had my room ready, they had put my little refrigerator back in the room and plugged it in so it was already cool. They also remembered that I needed an extension cord so I could plug up my laptop computer.

The hotel not only has the beach, great rooms and good service to offer. It has a pool, a fitness room, a hot tub, and a spa where you can get an emergency massage or an emergency facial. The hotel restaurant is right beside the pool. There is a section inside and another section outside next to the beach.

The Hollywood Beach Hotel is a delightful little gem nestled beside the beach away from the monstrous high-rise hotels of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. I would highly recommend it to anybody. There are lots of things to do in and around Hollywood. Both Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are short drives and Hollywood is restoring its city center. You can do as much or as little as you want, as much or as little as you can. If you are a Careful Traveler, you will feel as if you had a fine vacation even if you never leave the hotel.

A short drive from Hollywood is Dolphins Plus where you can swim with dolphins. The hearty can drive there and back in a day, but you would probably like to stay the night. Try the Kona Kai Hotel for the cozy, at home feel. Turn off the main road into beautifully landscaped grounds. It?s like entering a little cocoon. They even have their own art gallery.

Swim with Dolphins in Key Largo http://www.dolphinsplus.com/

Hollywood Beach Marriott http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/FLLOF

Sara?s Restaurant, Hollywood http://www.southflorida.com/dining/17777,0,5844547.venue

Dr. Johns is a criminologist, writer, travel planner, and freelance journalist. She has a Ph.D. in Criminology from the Faculty of Law of the University of Edinburgh and has written and published three books.

You can read some of her stories at http://www.cjjohns.com and email her at cjjohns@charter.net.

Traveling is a very exciting experience. But before you go on perfect getaway, you should prepare yourself. A little preparation will go a long way. It is a good idea to do some research. You want to learn as much as possible about your destination. For example, you want to know the type of weather in the area, and you want to find out what types of diseases are common in the area.

Documentation is also important. You want to make sure that you have the paperwork and documentation ready. You do not want to forget your visa at home, when you reach the airport. It is also a good idea to find out about the medical coverage. You may consider purchasing trip insurance.

If you plan to drive, you should get your automobile ready. You should take it to the local mechanic. You should study the local road, laws, and other driving regulations.

You should plan your budget. It is important that you research the cost of local items. If you plan to visit the country that has high cost of living, you can easily run out of money. You also want to have ideas on taxes and tipping in the country of your destination. Many governments charge high taxes for travel related services. It is also a good idea to check for local major holidays. Some services may be limited to those dates.

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Packing is one activity that will affect your entire trip. It is important to make sure not to bring too many things, since you will have to carry everything you bring.

Unless you are going somewhere very remote, don?t bother bringing a water filtration system. Most people in the world have access to fresh water; they simply can?t afford to buy it.

Bring clothing appropriate to where you are going. If you are traveling to the tropics, bring light clothing that dries quickly. Avoid heavy apparel like blue jeans and boots.

Don?t forget the little things like nail clippers, a sewing kit, compass, band-aids and toothbrush. In some countries, these things can be puzzlingly rare.

Do not bother bringing a space blanket. They are completely useless, and do not function as described by their clever marketing. Imagine trying to sleep under a giant piece of tin foil.

Swiss army knives seem like the perfect travelers tool, but because the blades are small and don?t lock they can be more dangerous than useful. Most jobs require a larger knife with a fixed or locking blade, such as a machete. Bring it, but don?t expect to be doing more with it than opening beer bottles.

The most important piece of gear to pack is ear plugs. They are the perfect solution for screaming babies, noisy buses, and partying neighbors. Bring several sets, but don?t throw them away after you use them. They are very difficult to replace while abroad.

All in all, remember to pack light. It?s more important to be carrying the right couple of tools than a bag full of laundry.

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MORE PLACES TO STAY IN CANCUN:

If you?re still checking out digs in Cancun, here are more inexpensive hotels you can add to your list. No Bunky, you?re still not going to be staying on the beach, but there IS air conditioning and sometimes even a nice pool.

Hotel Novotel
Avenida Tulum No. 75 (near the bus terminal)
884 ? 2999
Fax: 884 ? 3162

Rooms here are a tad pricier than on the Avenida Uxmal but all rooms are air conditioned and comfortable although rooms fronting the street can be noisy at times. The location is good and transportation conveniently available on the Avenida Tulum for zipping all around town. Expect to pay $300 pesos to $360 pesos during the slow periods from May to June and from October to mid December, which is hurricane season in this part of the Caribbean. The Summer months of June and July are slow enough that you can haggle a pretty good deal for an extended stay of a few days to a couple of weeks or so. Prices will sky-rocket during the peak Winter season.

Hotel Best Western Plaza Caribe
Avenida Uxmal (directly across the street from the bus terminal)
884 ? 1377
Fax: 884 ? 6352

This is the priciest of the accommodations mentioned in our listings. If you arrive very late into the city and speak little (or no) Spanish, don?t get yourself into a dither or risk any danger tromping around the area late at night. You don?t want to run into any of the ?late-night? people who frequent the vicinity. You can just pop right across the street and book a room for the night here (staff speaks English) and do your search in earnest for a more moderately-priced room the next day. Don?t run the gauntlet of undesirables (including taxi drivers) late at night here ? especially without a solid command of Spanish. The $40 USD you?ll pay is well worth your health and safety if it comes to that.

Casa de Huespedes Punta Allen
Punta Allen No. 8 (half a block off the Avenida Uxmal)
Cancun
884 ? 0225, 884 ? 1001

A small place with economical, but rather Spartan, unattractive rooms. Quality of the rooms varies somewhat, although most I saw were fairly tight quarters and not too well lit. All have at least a fan and many are air conditioned. Their singles are priced at $170 pesos, while doubles go for $230 pesos. And these are the LOW season prices. Negotiate the rate if you?re going to be around more than a few days. Peak season prices fluctuate based on what the traffic will bear and the economy at the moment.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an ELT Teacher Trainer, English language learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. He has published more than 350 articles and academic papers and presented at numerous EFL teacher training and TEFL conferences throughout North America, South America and Europe. For comments, questions, requests, to receive more information or to be added to his free TESOL articles and teaching materials mailing list, e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

Travel insurance

It is strongly recommended that all travelers are individually insured. The travel insurance should cover personal accident, medical expenses and repatriation, trip cancellation and loss of personal effects. Make sure your insurer is aware of the type of travel to be undertaken.

Travel visa

A tourist visa is required for entry into both Kenya and Tanzania. There are two options for purchase: 1) In advance by applying through your local Kenya and/or Tanzania embassy (allow 4-6 weeks). 2) Upon arrival in Kenya at the airport (Nairobi) and Tanzania at the border. Each visa is $50 USD and is payable in cash only (bill denominations must be $20 USD or less). Allow 30-45 minutes in Nairobi, and about 10-20 minutes at the Tanzania border.

Best time to view game

In general, the best times to see game are early morning and late afternoon. In the midday heat, animals frequently retreat to the cool of thick undergrowth, where they cannot be seen. Another benefit to morning and afternoon game drives is witnessing unforgettable sunrises and sunsets.

Rainy season

There are two rainy seasons – the Long Rains from mid-March to June, and the Short Rains from mid-November to mid-December. The Short rainy season and is only called short because of the duration not the amount of rain. Even though they are called the rainy season, there are still wonderful sunny days during that time. It might open up a huge downpour for an hour or so, but other than that you will be fine. Morning and afternoon game drives are usually not affected. You can usually save up to 20% on your tour by booking during these times.

Why Kenya and/or Tanzania

Hundreds of thousands of people travel to Kenya and Tanzania every year just to see the animals. There are lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffalo, rhino, giraffe, gazelle and wart hogs, just to name a few, that are alive and well and walking around in the game parks. Although you can no longer kill them, you can get mighty close to them to either photograph or just enjoy watching them go about doing whatever it is they do. There is also a huge variety of bird life. To add to all that, the land itself is some of the most gorgeous on the planet and extremely varied. There are mountains, deserts, savanna’s, rivers, oceans and forests. The air is clean, the scenery fantastic and the joys of getting that close to nature is hard to describe. Just being there seems to do something to many a visitors soul.

What about bugs?

There are insects of all varieties in Kenya/Tanzania and of course there are mosquitoes, mostly on the Coast however, but nothing worse then you have seen anywhere else. If the sight of a gecko sends you flying though, maybe a trip to Kenya/Tanzania is best avoided. You will not however, walk into huge swarms of killer bees or step across acres of crunching bugs under your feet. Snakes do exist of course, but are rarely seen. By anyone.

Internet access while on safari

While communications in remote camps will be limited, most major hotels and lodges offer Internet services as well as international telephone and fax services. Additionally, private communication centers and cyber cafes in larger towns enable tourists to stay connected. Some centers may close on Sundays and public holidays. The cellular networks in Kenya & Tanzania cover most large towns and tourist areas. There are post offices in many towns, and stamps are also sold in many shops in tourist lodges and hotels.

Safe water to drink.

The quality of tap water can vary by destination. It is best to drink bottled water.

Safety issues

Basic precautions should be taken in all countries. Tour guides are highly experienced in navigating each destination, but visitors should always be aware of their surroundings, especially in any rural villages that may be wary of foreigners. In less-developed areas where many people live in poverty, crimes of opportunity can occur, such as petty theft. Visitors are advised to stay alert and use common sense. Safari guests should limit the amount of cash they carry and lock valuables in a hotel safe or other secure place. Lock hotel rooms when you leave. Do not walk alone in deserted areas at night. Take extra care of purses, bags and wallets in crowded places.

Malaria

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, which bite mainly at dusk and at night. You can only contract malaria if you are bitten by an infected anopheles mosquito. It is best to use insect repellent containing DEET (sprayed on clothing and any exposed skin), to keep arms and legs covered as much as possible, and to avoid the use of perfume, hairspray and other scented products that might attract mosquitoes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that visitors to Kenya & Tanzania take anti-malarial medication. Consult a physician or travel clinic before your trip so that he or she can prescribe the appropriate drugs. Anti-malarial medications are generally taken prior to your departure, during your trip, and after you return home for periods determined by your doctor. Symptoms of malaria include aches, chills, headaches and fever, and may not appear until after your trip. Treatment is widely available, recovery times are fast, and with basic precautions, the risk of infection is minimal.

Entry into Kenya

U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport, visa, and proof of onward passage. Are there any health precautions I should take? According to the World Health Organization, Malaria risk exists throughout the year in the whole country. There is normally little risk in the city of Nairobi and in the highlands (above 2500 m) of Central, Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western provinces. Recommended prophylaxis: mefloquine. Consult your doctor about taking additional vaccinations for polio, typhoid, and hepatitis. CDC Website link: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica.htm WHO website link: http://www.who.int/ith/countrylist07.html#107

Currency

The currency in Kenya is the shilling. One American dollar equals approximately 80 shillings. Click here for updated currency information. ATMs: ATMs are everywhere in most cities. Tipping: Add 10% to the bill in restaurants, except where a service charge has been included. Tip bellhops 20 KSh per bag.

Best items to shop for in Kenya

Shop for wood carvings of animals and people, sisal baskets, Maasai and Kikuyu beadwork, hand-woven sarong fabric, soapstone, gourds, ebony carvings, batik wall hangings, tanzanite gemstones, and malachite. Some of the best handcrafts of Kenya and other countries in Africa are sent to Nairobi. Visit artist cooperatives to buy directly from artists. Note: There have been problems with not receiving souvenirs shipped home, so I advise you carry them home in your luggage.

Voltage requirements in Kenya

Voltage: 240 V; Plug G. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. Click here for more information about electrical standards around the world.

Robert Muhoho For more: www.landmarksafaris.com Robert is a tour consultant in Kenya and has planned safaris for over 50,000 tourists in the East African region. He is a tour operations- major and involved in National tourism policy development in Kenya.

Kindly email this article to friends leaving for Africa